Final answer:
Radioactive carbon isotopes like C-14 are utilized to trace the translocation of sugars within plants by detecting their radioactive emissions, providing insight into the translocation process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Radioactive carbon isotopes such as carbon-14 (C-14) are used as tracers to study translocation in plants by monitoring the radioactive emissions from these isotopes. During photosynthesis, plants are exposed to CO₂ containing a high concentration of C-14. As the plant undergoes translocation, distributing sugars from the leaves to other parts of the plant, scientists can track the movement of these sugars by detecting the presence of the radioactive C-14 isotope in different tissues at various times. This technique allows researchers to understand how, when, and where the synthesized, radioactive sucrose is transported within the plant, shedding light on the translocation process.